What animal should be a child’s first pet? | Animal Magic

Before I answer that, does it need to be said that no animal should ever be allowed to suffer if a child tires of the responsibility of caring for them?

Certainly animals cannot be used as try-outs to ‘practice’ on.

But assuming that the child in question is backed by a responsible adult who knows that, worst case scenario, they themselves are happy to take over the daily care of this child’s pet, what would I recommend?

I always start by asking a family to think about what their plan is for when they like to go away.

If the family has a good plan for someone who will top up the food bowls, check the pets are well, clean out the hutch or litter trays, top up the bedding and see that the water bowls are not frozen, then we can talk specifics.

I would advise against a reptile for a first pet.

If the child is quite young, or unsure then I would also discourage rabbits. They are extremely sensitive to tentative handling, and may struggle. Very sadly, this can easily result in a fall and a fracture. A scared rabbit may attempt to leap away, and can easily snap their own spines in the attempt. This is usually fatal.

Smaller pets such as mice, hamsters and gerbils might be a little too fast and nippy for a child who would like to lavish loving attention onto an individual.

So, I would recommend either a pair of rats, or a pair of guinea pigs.

These are both of an appropriate size for smaller arms to cuddle, and capable of giving back a great deal of affection.

You still need to think about the amount of space you can offer these intelligent creatures, and how to keep them safe.

Guinea pigs require a very specialist diet, and regular grooming.

Both are quite messy, and can easily cause considerable damage with their teeth if left to explore unsupervised. They need company, so should never be kept alone, but their loving natures make them very rewarding to care for.

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